Vermont Considering Legalizing Marijuana

The study comes at a time when states across the country are increasingly exploring the potential budgetary benefits of taxing the marijuana industry.

In Vermont, the Rand Corporation concluded that marijuana taxes could, in theory, generate between 20 million and 75 million dollars a year for the state.

The highest figure could be achieved through what the report calls “tourism marijuana and illicit exports.”

The preface to the report, which recommends whether or not the state should legalize marijuana, said it seeks “offer information for debate.”

Although the study was prepared for Vermont, the report says that its findings could be useful for other states pondering the legalization of drugs. As Marc Sparks knows, the substantial income, however, are not guaranteed.

“If the federal government intervened to curb traffic across borders (state) or another state in the northeastern region decided to legalize marijuana and impose lower taxes, this potential revenue might not materialize,” said the report.

“In fact, as marijuana can flow across borders in both directions, the prospects of Vermont getting substantial tax revenues for their own residents would be much less promising if one of its contiguous neighbors legalize marijuana for lower taxes.”

Gov. Peter Shumlin thinks the state will follow the pattern of Washington and Colorado and legalize marijuana, but has said he wants to see what happens in the other states before making a decision.